The VA gives every veteran who applies for benefits a disability rating. This rating ranges from 0%-100% and indicates the occupational limitations that a soldier may have due to active military duty. The higher your VA rating, the more you may be able to receive in monthly compensation. The VA has listed spinal conditions under section 4.71 Schedule of ratings–musculeskeletal system.
For spinal conditions such as Lumbosacral or cervical strain, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, ankylosing spondylitis, spinal fusion, and vertebral fracture/dislocation, the VA will use the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine to determine a disability rating. When using this rating system, the VA will evaluate both the cervical spine and the thoracolumbar spine through a variety of tests. These tests will measure the veteran’s range of motion. The results will then be used to determine what their VA disability rating is. Under the general rating formula, an applicant will receive a rating of either 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, or 100%.